Thieves steal record amount of copper wire from light poles along interstate in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah officials say thieves have pulled off the largest single copper-wire heist in the state Department of Transportation's history.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/12ajy4F) up to 35,000 feet of wire were taken from light poles along a mile-long stretch of Interstate 15 in Salt Lake City.

Transportation Department spokesman John Gleason says the theft was discovered last week and would cost about $50,000 to repair.

Officials say it's a bit of a mystery how the thieves carried out the crime because the area is so busy. Gleason says it likely took them several hours or days, and they probably had to use a vehicle to pull the heavy wire out from the ground.

He says the thieves may have dressed as construction workers so they wouldn't look suspicious.